Inside The Bills

Bills third-round pick Marquise Goodwin from Texas not only has elite speed, but world class speed clocking a 4.27 40-time at the NFL Combine. Here’s how he stacked up to some of Tavon Austin’s measurable at the NFL Combine back in late February.

Goodwin had an astounding 42-inch vertical at his pro day and an 11’5″ broad jump.

Though Austin was the featured player in West Virginia’s offense, Goodwin found it hard to get consistent playing time on offense, due mainly to the time he missed in spring practice when he was running track. But Goodwin doesn’t envy guys like Austin.

“No, definitely not envious whatsoever. I’m a real Christian guy and in the Bible envy is a sin,” said Goodwin. “I try my best not to sin as much as I can. I really don’t look at Tavon Austin and look at myself and try to compare both he and I because we’re two different individuals, definitely have two different opportunities. With that being said I definitely don’t envy what he has. I’m really happy for him actually.”

NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock was asked specifically about the direction the Bills could or should take with the eighth overall pick. He’s not a fan of the value on the board and Buffalo’s positional needs, feeling they don’t match up. So here is his best solution for them.

“I think they’re in a little bit of a tough spot,” Mayock said. “There is obviously a whole quarterback conversation that has to be held. And I’m not a big believer that there is a quarterback worthy at that spot. Now Buddy Nix might disagree with me. It could be Geno Smith, who I don’t think is a fit. It could be Matt Barkley. It could be Ryan Nassib. But to me, they’re not fits.

“So if you’re not going to take a quarterback at eight and you don’t have a chance to trade down, to me they have an offensive line need. I’d love to see them get a tackle and move Cordy Glenn to the right side or inside. I think it would help two spots if you could get a left tackle.

“But at eight, I don’t think you’ll get a left tackle unless you’re willing to trade up. So sitting there, I mentioned (guards Chance) Warmack and (Jonathan) Cooper. Either one of which I’m good with at 8.

“I don’t think there is a wide receiver at eight. Initially I thought about Tavon Austin there. He’s the most explosive offensive player in this draft. The more I thought about t I thought you’ve already got Leodis McKelvin to return punts. You have C.J. Spiller at tailback who can split out and do some of those things. So as much as I like Austin, I’m not sure he’s a great fit there. So I think you’re kind of stuck.

“If it’s not the quarterback, you’re looking at the best offensive lineman on your board or an edge rusher. With Mario Williams on one side, Mark Anderson coming back from injury, and Chris Kelsay retired, you’ve got room for an edge rusher. So a Barkevious Mingo or somebody like that, that wouldn’t surprise me either.”

Alright Bills fans this is the last Fan Friday before the NFL draft. The “hay is in the barn” as the scouts say, just got to wait and see how the board falls next week. Be sure to check out my 8th annual mock draft next Wednesday. It’ll be entertaining. Here now are your latest questions from AskChris@bills.nfl.net and on Twitter @ChrisBrownBills.

CB: It’s my contention that the Bills would be very interested in trading down. As I covered in my story this week, after asking GM Buddy Nix about trading down, there could be some players for the eighth overall pick if prospects like Oklahoma OT Lane Johnson or West Virginia WR Tavon Austin are both still on the board.

I don’t get the sense that they like the value there at eight for positions they’d like to address early (QB, WR) so I believe if they can move back to an area where they like the value better (late teens or 20’s) and add a draft choice they would do it.

@ChrisBrownBills Williams to Safety. Does this open up the possibility of CB at pick 8? Dee Milliner, if he falls, or Xavier Rhodes??

CB: I think with Aaron Williams moving to safety it raises the level of importance for addressing cornerback in the draft. Outside of Stephon Gilmore the Bills lack size at corner, so a tough, physical corner is needed out there. If Milliner falls to eight I wouldn’t rule out him being a consideration. At the same time I believe moving back and adding another draft choice could trump it.

But with Williams moving to safety I believe it has made adding a cornerback a necessity at some point in this draft.

3 – Chris,
With our needs at SS, ILB, OLB, WR and QB most likely to be addressed thru the draft, I find it really strange that there has been very little noise about bringing in some quality free agent guards for visits. It seems like a glaring hole (let’s not forget Rinehart is gone as well). Have you heard anything on Mr. Nix’s plans for this position? I would like to see our RBs continue to run hard and whoever are QB may end up being it would be nice for him to be in one piece after a few games.

Go Bills!
Kirk

CB: I’ll give you Mr. Nix’s exact thoughts about the team’s status at the guard spot. Here is a direct quote from the draft luncheon when he was asked if losing Andy Levitre and Chad Rinehart in free agency had altered their approach in the draft at all?

“Not at all,” said Nix. “Not at all, now having said that I know people have said we’re taking one of those top two guards. Our roster in house is better than I think we get credit for especially offensive line. We’re pretty deep there. We’ve got six guards and we think a couple of them can play. Now having said all that before you write that we’re not going to take a guard at number eight, it’s hard to pass up two players like the old boy at Alabama (Chance Warmack) and the kid at North Carolina (Jonathan Cooper). Both of those are great players so you have to give that a lot of thought when they come up.”

When asked as a follow up if he had enough confidence in the six guards on the roster to the point where if they did not draft a guard would he be fine, he said he would be.

To be clear the players they believe offer them ability at guard are starter Kraig Urbik and Colin Brown and Sam Young. Brown and Young rotated in with the starting unit at left guard. If there are no other additions at the position those two are likely to battle it out for the starting role.

Zebrie Sanders, who Doug Marrone views as a tackle first and guard second, could potentially be a part of that competition down the road when he’s healthy.

4 – Chris,
So I’ve been hearing that Tyler Bray has some of the best upside in the QB class I was wondering what you thought of him and if you think he’s worthy of our second pick. Also if you think that going after Patterson in the first round, Bray in the 2nd or 3rd to have some instantaneous chemistry on offense would be a good idea. Or do you see a prospect at QB worth it at eight and maybe go after the other Tennessee kid, Hunter in the second? I’d live to get some feedback on these thoughts.

Thanks, Will
GO BILLS!!

CB: There’s no debating that Bray can throw the heck out of the ball. He is the only junior eligible in this QB class and is a bit unpolished. I’m a bit concerned about his capability of coming in and being a leader for your football team. He has the physical skills, but there are maturity issues that NFL clubs have been busy investigating.

I respect your thought of instantaneous chemistry, but it would be anything but instantaneous. Patterson is very green and might not be a big time contributor until his third NFL season. Likewise Bray is also not NFL ready right now. So while those two might have chemistry, I’m not sure you’d see it right away on an NFL field against NFL competition.

I do subscribe to your latter suggestion. In fact that’s what I believe will happen in this draft. I believe Buffalo goes quarterback in the first and receiver in the second. Now they may trade back in round one before taking the QB, but I believe there’s a good chance they do that and Hunter is a viable value in round two.

I’m also a fan of E.J. Manuel despite the naysayers.

5 – Chris,

With the Bills being deficient last year at WR (and getting rid of what little depth that they have by releasing Nelson and Jones) on top of not signing ANY free agent WRs this offseason, doesn’t it seem like there’s a VERY good chance they draft Cordarrelle Patterson with their 8th pick? I’m not even saying I want that, but what choice do they have? That position is looking thinner and thinner this offseason. This is assuming they can’t get their franchise QB in the first round…

-Nate
PS- Go Bills

CB: I think your point is well taken. The Bills need to add an instant contributor at receiver. I believe this will happen in round two. There’s good value between rounds two and four where you can get a player that can help you sooner rather than later. The value at WR is not good in round one until the very end.

It wouldn’t surprise me if the Bills took two receivers in the draft despite the fact that they have just six picks.

The draft prognosticators at ESPN both went guard for the Bills at eighth overall. Now NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah has a receiver going to Buffalo, but not the one you might think.

He has West Virginia WR Tavon Austin going to the Bills with the eighth pick. Here’s his synopsis.

Pick No. 8 – Tavon Austin – WR – West Virginia

With the addition of Kevin Kolb, the Bills are free to take the best available player on their draft board. Austin is electric on tape, and his workouts have generated an extraordinary amount of buzz in NFL circles. This offense needs more playmakers, and Austin would be a great fit.

There’s no question that Austin is a dynamic playmaker, but with the Bills looking to move Stevie Johnson inside to the slot, Austin may not be what Buffalo is looking for at the receiver position.

Now that all the WRs have finished running at the NFL Scouting Combine, the official times for the 40-yard dash are in. And West Virginia’s Tavon Austin saw his official time adjusted to 4.34 in the 40. Initially this morning, he was clocked at 4.25.
That’s still very good for Austin, who told reporters at the Combine Friday, “I am the all around best player in the draft.” That’s debatable, but he’s certainly one of the fastest.
Texas Marquise Goodwin’s official time is 4.27, the best time among WRs this weekend.

The Sunday workouts are really the big crowd pleasers at the NFL Scouting Combine, with QBs, WRs, and RBs take the field.
And already, we have our first star of the 2013 Combine.
West Virginia WR Tavon Austin has become the top performer on the field so far. It started this morning, when he ran a 4.25 in the 40-yard dash-the second best time in the 40 ever at the Combine. Moments later, his time was equaled by Texas WR Marquise Goodwin.
Then, when the WRs and QBs took began the passing drills, Austin continued to shine. He showed a tremendous burst of speed once he caught the ball and made sharp cuts on his pass routes. Austin’s catches during the drills earned some applause from the other players on the field on a couple of occasions–that’s how impressive he was.
The major drawback on Tavon Austin is size. He measured in at five feet, eight and a half inches tall, 174 pounds. That’s not the kind of size the Bils are looking for at the WR spot. But he’s thickly built and seems to have good hands.
His workout today may have pushed him into the top half of the first round.

Goodwin’s number might not have been as eye popping knowing he is a former Olympic sprinter. Austin was known to be fast, but this time might have even caught scouts off guard.

Each of them ran a second 40 that was “slower” than their first. Goodwin ran a 4.29 and Austin clocked a 4.31. Austin could sneak into the bottom of round one as he is a dynamic all-purpose threat despite being small in stature. Goodwin also is not a big receiver, but is deemed as more of a late day two draft choice.